'Christmas' in A Christmas Carol: Key Quotes & Analysis Active Themes The Christmas Spirit I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time the only time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers. The workers will be repairing the building. This scene is very clever as well because not only does seeing the Fezziwigs party give Scrooges character the chance to see how much power he wields and how that influence could be used but it also offers us the opportunity to see some of the aspects that shaped Scrooge into the person that he was. In this quote, Dickens describes London as a dark and dangerous place. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. ', Stave 1: 'that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. ". jovial voice.". Then, identify each underlined word by writing above it ADV for adverb or ADJ for adjective. His selfish ways have left him this way. Stave one About Scrooge: "As solitary as an oyster." "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge." "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it." Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Here, we get the image of a country that is united during this time of year; a place where Christmas and Britishness are inextricably linked, which would have been incredibly popular for a Victorian audience who were in the throws of empire building. Of course, the fact that this is obvious does not detract from the big reveal due to the way that Dickens masterfully creates tension. Studying 'A Christmas Carol'? ', People with lots of money already are more likely to be greedy for more, not thinking about sharing that money with others effectively. The Total Abstinence Principle was a phrase used for teetotallers (people who refrained from drinking). 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. The chains are a metaphor for his punishment for his greedy life. Dickens wished to educate people about the personal consequences of maintaining such an attitude, Scrooge's former staff can be seen selling of his old things as they were not paid sufficiently when he was alive, Stave 1/3: 'If he be like to die, he better do it and decrease the surplus population', Stave 3: 'wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable', Stave 3: 'The girl is ignorance, the boy is want', 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's relationship with Marley. The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. that this creature, who appears to be both young and old, is an image of Jesus who was a baby at Christmas and yet who, as the son of God, represents the divine wisdom that Christians worship. This has a double meaning both as a sympathetic term of endearment and also the fact that thanks to Scrooge the man is literally poor. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". The most clearly religious image though is how it wears a tunic of purest white, as though it is a pure, innocent Angel sent to guide him. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. Though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! Scrooge awakes and finds his room as dark as when he fell asleep at two o'clock. GCSE (9-1): Literature: A Christmas Carol: Key Quotes: Key Quotes with Analysis 4.7 (15 reviews) Term 1 / 36 'Sole' (stave 1) Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 36 repetition - Isolated, lonely. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. A Christmas Carol - stave 2 Key Quotes Flashcards | Quizlet A happy New Year to all the world! Repetition of 'chuckle' emphasises Scrooge's newfound delight in giving. A Christmas Carol: Study Guide | SparkNotes When it was made you were another man. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. Stave 5 - pathetic fallacy All rights reserved. 'A Christmas Carol' Key Quotations Stave 5 Analysis The final ghost is by far the most scary of the three it remains silent throughout their time together, only standing by as a guide, and leaving Scrooge and the reader to work out the story himself. Perfect for those studying the book at school (particularly GCSE students) or simply those wanting to learn more about it.For more in Dr Aidan's 'A Christmas Carol' series:The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYYPicture credits: Grim Reaper: openclipart.comCornucopia: openclipart.com No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. I am as giddy as a drunken man. forgiving- "to Mr Scrooge, the founder of the feast.". The simile has a snake like connotations, Marley is a symbol of evil. This is said by criminals who plundered/ stole from scrooge after he died. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video. If you watch any of the adaptations of A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim is almost always one of the loveable characters and with good reason. Scrooge is presented as a miserly character - his money does not even bring him any happiness. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship. In Victorian times, most of the readers would have been christian and would therefore heap additional judgement on Scrooge who needs to repent. The adjective monstrous, creates a negative impression of the man, almost evil, and reinforces Dickens message that it was the ignorance of the rich that created many society's problems. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. The description of Marley's ghost has his chain wound about him. The last line of A Christmas Carol is God bless us, everyone. Its spoken by the well-loved character Tiny Tim. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? Dickens' use of the word 'good' repetitively to demonstrate the juxtaposition between Scrooge at the beginning of the novel, where Dickens describes Scrooge as a 'covetous old sinner'. The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. Stave 3 - Scrooge's willingness to learn Themes= greed and generosity/ time. As a result of this he was damned to walk as a ghost chained with money boxes surrounding him. For example, the first ghost is a metaphor for how memories and the past shape ones experience, while the last ghost is a metaphor for death and ones legacy. The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. Who suffers by his ill whims? The girl is want. I should like to have given him something: thats all., About the Fezziwig family: shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas., Scrooge about Mr Fezziwig: The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune., Belle to Scrooge: Another idol has displaced me., Belle about Scrooge: I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you., Belles husband to Belle about Scrooge: Quite alone in the world, I do believe., There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad., About the Ghost of Christmas Present: Sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch., About the Cratchits goose: a feathered phenomenon., There never was such a goose. However, these are two children that he has no control over. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didnt thaw it one degree at Christmas. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. "I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. ', Stave 5: 'No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold;', Stave 5: 'He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.'. () A famous geographer Thomas Malthus came up with the theory that the poor were just surplus population and thus should be left to their own devices - even if this meant letting them die. Scrooge makes explicit reference to the Malthusian idea that the population must decrease in order to create better conditions. A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. The list of verbs, gives the spirit a threatening air- this is compounded by the fact that he does not speak to scrooge at all. The entrance of Scrooge 's nephew Fred at the beginning of the story introduces another side to the miser. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. It is this love that consoles him in stave 4 when Tiny Tim is shown to be dead, a long with the memories of Tiny Tim as a patient and loving boy. When he sees Tiny Tim and his jubilance despite his disadvantages, Scrooge cannot help but feel compassion and by association guilt, as he has seen from the effect Fezziwg had on his staff that he could have a similar influence on Tiny Tim. A happy New Year to all the world. Oh! I can't afford to make idle people merry.". This symbolises his generosity and air of festivity. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. Are there no prisons?'' This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. For a start, there is the use of ghosts throughout. Themes= greed and generosity of the poor. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. And perhaps its because we know the story so well, or maybe because it is pretty obvious, most readers will probably understand that they are in fact commenting on Scrooge. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is., Bob Cratchit about Freds kindness: It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us., About Scrooges grave: overrun by grass and weeds., Scrooge on what he has learnt: I will not shut out the lessons that they teach., Scrooge: The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me., Scrooge: I am as light as a feather, I am a happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. A Christmas Carol - quotation analysis Flashcards | Quizlet His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. I am not the man I was', When Scrooge sees the name on the gravestone, he realises that time for change is limited, The ghost of Christmas past shows Scrooge some memories that may have been lost to time, Stave 2: 'each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long forgotten', Stave 4: 'Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only? This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. but stopped at the first syllable', Repeated phrase (Juxtaposition and patterning), Stave 5: 'Hear me! His most famous saying is bah humbug. He used it as an exclamation when he wanted to express his displeasure about something. Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. Analysis. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. "Are there no prisons?" The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. Did the Anglo-Saxon period last between 449 and 1066? A Christmas Carol: Jacob Marley Quotes | SparkNotes Stave 3 - the Cratchits They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. Marley 2. Glorious!'. In what ways did Louis XV differ from Louis XIV? Watching Scrooge forge his own invisible chain served as part of Marley's punishment for his deeds in life. These include Scrooges cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.'. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. Why show me this, if I am past all hope! For the first time, the hand appeared to shake. This poignant moment arrives when Scrooge is looking at Christmas yet to come. It is a dark, sad moment but Bob Cratchit handles the situation with grace and dignity. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune.". Marleys chains symbolize the mistakes hes made in life and the greed that controlled him. Themes= greed and generosity/time. Representing Victorian society. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis - chegg.com As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it. Stave 2 - the arrival of his sister, Fan Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. Whatever the book. Quotes (A Christmas Carol) - GCSE English Literature Revision "', The ghost of Christmas present focuses greatly on the Crachit family and how, despite their poor financial situation, In the Victorian era, family and family time were extremely important, particularly around Christmas, ' A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. Bob describes his crippled son. God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. Oh, glorious. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with the 10 key quotes in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', along with in-depth analysis, to he. In this case, Ebeneezer and Fezziwig are both business owners with employees, but where they diverge is in their treatment of others and in their outlook on life. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. A Christmas Carol - Stave 3 Key Quotes Flashcards | Quizlet No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. I am as giddy as a drunken man. Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. Tiny Tim's comment is generous in spirit, seeing his disability positively as it will remind others of the true meaning of Christmas by allowing them to think of Jesus on Christmas day. Scrooge. I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. 'Long and wound about him like a tail made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses.'. " Scrooge entered timidly and hung . International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. By the time he reaches the third ghost The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come he orders the ghost, using the imperative phrase Lead on! He is in control now, and wants the change desperately enough to be forceful about it. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Instead, once you know and understand the plot, a great idea is to pick three or four major themes, and three or four major characters, and revise them in great detail. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. Stave 1 - Scrooge's rponse to being asked to give money to charity, "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.". Accessed 4 March 2023. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Past: "The curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, When the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives, the curtains of his bed were drawn aside by a hand. Here, it is clear that it is the ghost who makes the move the ghost actively. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. " For each of the following sentences, identify the subject of the verb in parentheses. Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. These words are then used against him by the ghost of the Christmas present. Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy., Scrooge says to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart., Two Business Colleagues: Its likely to be a very cheap funeral, said the same speaker; for upon my life I dont know of anybody to go to it., Scrooge to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: I see, I see. The boy is ignorance. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | Characters, Quotes, & Analysis